By ANITA CHEPKOECHMore by this AuthorUK agriculture multinational James Finlay on Thursday announced plans to stop flower production on its Kericho farms, thrusting some 2,000 workers into a future without jobs. “James Finlay Kenya regretfully announces the start of the phased closure of its flower operations in Kericho. “It has been an extremely difficult decision but labour costs in Kericho are significantly higher than other locations in Kenya, causing the Kericho farms to be uneconomic and uncompetitive,” Finlay Flowers general manager Steve Scott said. Multinational tea firms recorded massive losses in the last quarter of 2017, partly because the 40,000 workers on Kericho, Bomet and Nandi tea farms joined industrial action to press for better pay. The Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA), whose membership includes James Finlay, George Williamson, Kaisugu and non-member Unilever, said it had lost millions of shillings during the strike.

Source: Daily Nation April 26, 2018 18:45 UTC